Fuse and disconnect switch



July 18, 1933. w, A. HEINRICH FUSE AND DISCONNECT SWITCH Filed Sept. 16, 1929 ATTORNEXS Patented July 18, 1933 WALTER A. HEINRICH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI FUSE AND DISGONNECT SWITCH Application filed September This invention relates to improvements in switches of the type known as fuse and disconnect'cutouts, which are used principally for outdoor service on high tension transmission lines.

A switch, of the type noted, as distinguished from the familiar hinged blade type, is characterized by a shell or housing of insulating.material which completely en- .16 closes the terminals, contacts, and other live nieinbers.- In further distinction, the blade, or terminal connecting member, may be entirely removed and separated from the housing and contact assembly. This construction is particularly applicable to the employment of use in connection with the removable terminal bridging member, and provides a combination fuse .and disconnect switch in which the replacement of a fuse may be acilf complished with utmost safety to the lineman. i v

. in a fusedswitch constructed according to the present invention, I provide a fuse cartridge of the well known expulsion type, in which the arc, formed across the severed fuse ends, is quickly extinguished by the force of the fuse explosion, the cases escaping through one end of the cartric The force of the explosion uo nally tei. -.s to unseat. cartridge from the terminal members, in certain cases of severe short circuit,

the and and coil force may be suflicient to. blow the cartridge completely out and away from the a housing.

To uevent the'unintended removal of the 'artridge of a fuseswitch, due to internal. pre ure, I provide a cartridge lock which f becomes operative immediately upon seating the cartridge in the housing, no other motion being re uired to effect the operation of the lock. Since the cartridge, in most cases, is handled into and out of the housing at a distance therefrom, as by means of a linemans fuse stick, supplementary looking or unlocking movement tends to complicate the refusing operations, and is highly undesirable. In the device of my invention, a single force on the cartridgehandle, such as would normally be applied to with in the absence of locking means, the re 16, 1929. Serial l lo. 382,320.

draw the cartridge, is suflicient to unlock and disconnect the switch from the termin mg.

An ob ect of my invention is to al h us provide an improved fuse and disconnect switch, in-

corporating the 'artrid described above.

Other obgect and advantages will from the following detailed descripte' locking features appear ion and the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1

is a partially section d elevation of my de vice, as assembled; Fig. 2 is an elevation, 4. u partly in section, of a preferred form of fuse cart-ridge, showing certain features ternnnals, connections and cartridge of the locking means, and Fig. 3 section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, a tubular shell or housing 5, of porcelain or other suitable insulating material, is p rovided diameter at this point, serves to seat sition a contact or terminal ring 8.

reiably provided with a foot member ispro portion, indicated the shoulder T, and the contact held in place by cei which occupies he space and the housing.

at adapted to rest ing between t is made inside the terminal lug 11, the

and po- This against may be it 10, or its equivalent, he ring Connection with the line housing by means of the line passing through an aperture (not shown) in the porcelain shell andv into a lug opening 12, where it is secure- 1y held, as by-a screw 13. Near posite end of the substantial distance,

the ophousing, but receded at a is fixedly positioned a contact ring 14 which may be of a construction similar to, and positioned in the same manner as the member 8. access to which is obtained through t A set screw 15,

he open bottom of the housing, serves to secure line wire or cable to the lower contact ring, passage to this member being obtained through a wall aperture not shown in the housing, but appearing in the illustr the contact ring.

ation of A housing cap 16, preferably of porcelain, excludes moisture from the housing and serves as a handle for the manipulation of the cartridge into and out of the housing.

The cartridge comprises a shouldered tube 17, of fibre or other suitable material, one

' end of which engages a closed metal cap or explosion chamber 18, as by threads 19. The tube 17 may be formed of a single element, or of two concentric tubes of different lengths, as shown, the outer element being preferably located along the inner element so as to provide a shoulder just below the cap 18. An internal, converging portion of the chamber, indicated at 20, serves to guide a fuse 21 into a pocket at the upper portion of the chamber, where the fuse may be tightly clamped as by a set screw 22. The fuse, adapted to pass lengthwise through the fibre tube, constitutes 2 a strip of metal which may be uniform along its length, but which may have a portion near one end which is of reduced cross sectional area. The fuse is, by preference, so disposed in the cartridge, that the portion of reduced area lies within the metal cap or explosion chamber 18, whereby the fuse rupture is confinedto this portion of the cartridge.

The fuse, being considerably longer than the cartridge, is given a reverse bend where it emerges fromthe fibre tube, and coupling is made outside the tube, with an outer or lower cartridge terminal 23, as shown in Fig. 2, this terminal being by preference of one-piece construction except for assembly and contact :screws, the latter of which may be similar to the binding screw 22. The cartridge terminal 23, as will be seen from Fig. 1, is flared outwardly and downwardly and its under surface may be machined so that the members 23 and 14 form an effective seal at this point,

serving to prevent gases from the cartridge entering the central portion of the bore in the insulating body. By preference, the ring 23 is so positioned as to limit the inward e movement of the cartridge upon insertion, so that the handle portion 16 falls just short of abutting the upper margin of the body portion 5. A series of contact clips 24, of longitudinal. trend and peripherally disposed around the tube member, are secured adjacent to, and extend beyond the terminal member 23. The clips 24, of good conducting and somewhat resilient metal, have an outer surface of arcuate contour, as shown in Fig. 3, to enable each of them to conform with and seat upon the curved inner surface of the contact ring 14, thereby insuring a full surface contact between these members. The entire lower cartridge contact assembly is ad apted to be positioned on the tube 17 as by the set screw 25. As shown in Fig. 2, the tube 17 is preferably shouldered to provide an abutment for the ring 23, which cooperates with the screw 25 to position the ring member 63 along the tube, and prevents any tendency of the ring member to creep upwardly along the tube under the influence of closing impact.

The metal cap or explosion chamber 18, at the upper end of the cartridge, is provided with contact clips 26 of a construction similar to the lower clips 24, and which in like manner extend outwardly from the cap to engage the inner surface of the terminal ring 8. By preference, an d as illustrated, the contact fingers or clips 24- and 26, are each secured to or formed with annular portions engaging one end only of each of the clips, the opposite end being inwardly directed and free to move slidably along the adjacent portions of the cartridge. This expedient provides a wide range of free movement of each clip, insures sufficient resilience for good contact, and simplifies manufacture and assembly.

Means for locking the cartridge within the housing, hereinabove mentioned, are provided in resilient metal fingers 27, which pro ject upwardly and outwardly from the cap 18, whereupon they are adapted to engage, in locking position, an internal annular groove 28, formed in the terminal ring 8. This groove is, by preference, of angulate section, to resist any tendency for the locking fingers to be released thereby under the force of a blowing fuse. Obviously. the portions 28 are not. in all cases, required to be annular as presently preferred, but may consist of not'rhes or indentations disposed to receive portions of the locking members 27.

The porcelain closure or cap 16 is, by preference, initially made of hollow construction to be filled by a cementing material in the course of assembly. Rigidly secured to the cap, as by the aforementioned cement, is a cup-shaped member, or sleeve 29, which is adapted to fit over the cartridge end, in slidable association therewith, between the contact clips 26 and the explosion chamber. In assembly the free ends of certain of the contact clips 26 serve to extend over the sleeve 29. in frictional engagement therewith, so as to preserve the alignment between the sleeve and the tube 17.

A wall. opening 30 in the sleeve exposes the set scre Y 22, and other suitable openings not shown) are provided to allow the recited locking fingers 27 to project through the sleeve, for engagement with the grooved por tion of the upper ring 8. Now, since the fingers 27 are flared, or extend outwardly at an angle through the sleeve member, an outward, endwise movement of this member, relative to the cartridge, immediately causes a constriction of the fingers, drawing them out of the recess 28, to unlock and permit withdrawal of the cartridge.

The limit of relative movement is reached when the band portion of the sleeve 29 approaches the offset portion 31 in each of the locking fingers, whereupon further outward pull on the cap or handle causes removal of the cartridge from the housing.

To those familiar withthe art, the advantages obtained by this construction will at once be apparent. The mere acts of withdrawing and replacing the cartridge, causes the locking fingers to be engaged and disengaged, without any separate locking movement, the locking and unlocking being effected by the normal, straight-line move ment incident to the usual insertion and withdrawal of the cartridge.

It will be seen that the construction de scribed enables a cartridge to be inserted into the body or housing, without first lining it up to acertain angular relation with the hol as is necessary in certain prevailing typesof equipment of this class. A further advantage is provided by the use of round contacting portions, in that the contacting surfaces may be rota ted relative to each other, with a wiping or cleaning action to preserve these members and maintain the electrical efficiency of the device.

By employing locking members separate from 'the contacts, even though the locking means might become damaged in some mannor, the current carrying facilities are not thereby impaired... A constructional advantage is further found in that the movable resih icnt contact members are carried entirely by the cartridge or contact bridging member, as

tinguished from the terminal portions earwithin the body or housing. This f a- 's-lll'G makes for ease of replacement and orig inal assembly, and obviates the attachment of accessory portions, as byriveting. to those contacts which may be cemented in the housbrid ng'memcer in situations where a fused construction may not be desirable or necessary.

Having described a preferred illustrative embodiment of my invention, which in my n nt belief illustrates the best modes of app]; 5; the principles thereof, I am at the same time aware that the invention may be embodied in other forms, all of which a-.. intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch, an enclosure therefor, a

switch blade element, a handle therefor, contact members carried by the enclosure and blade element, and means independent of said contacts for securing said blade element in switch closing position, whereby the element is adapted to be locked in switch closing position, said means adapted for actuation by the handle independently of relative movement of said contacts to permit unlocking of the blade element from said enclosure by endwise movement of the element relative to the enclosure.

2. In a switch, an enclosure therefor, a switch blade, a contact carried thereby, a blade manipulating member, a locking element disposed between said enclosure and blade, said locking element adapted to be actuated independently of the contact, upon endwise movement of the blade manipulating member relative to the enclosure.

8. In a switch, an. enclosure, stationary contacts carried thereby, a removable member for bridging said contacts, a member for manipulating said bridging member, a contact member car 'ied by said. bridging member, a looking member carried by said bridging member independently of the contact member, and means for actuating said contactingand locking-members upon rectilinear movement of sad bridging member.

l. In a switcl an enclosure, contact members carried thereby, each having a circular contacting seat, a removable member for bridging said contacts, adapted to be disposed within the enclosure, and an insulating mem her for manipulation of said bridging elements, and having a lost motion engagement therewith.

5. In a switch, an insulating enclosure, contacts carried by said enclosure, a removable member for bridging said contacts and rotatably disposed within the enclosure, a manipulating element for said bridging member, and means connecting the manipulating ele ment and bridging member in lost motion engagement.

6. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder, handle therefor, contacts disposed on the holder, locking means for the fuse holder and means, operatively connect in the handle, contacts, fuse holder and looking means, and adapted upon movement of the handle, to effect a movement of said locking means in advance of movement of said contacts.

7. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder, contacts disposed within the enclosure, a handle for the fuse holder, locking means for the fuse holder and means, operatively connecting the handle, contacts, fuse holder and locking means, and adapted, upon movement of the handle, to effect a movement of said locking means, contacts and fuse holder in a predetermined sequence.

8. Ina fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder, contacts disposed within the holder, a handle for the fuse holder, locking means for the fuse holder and means, operatively connecting the handle, contacts, fuse holder and locking means, and adapted, upon movement of the handle, to effect a movement of said locking means independently of a disengaging movement of said Contacts.

9. In a fuse switch, an enclosure therefor, a fuse holder, contacting members removably disposed within the enclosure, a locking device for the fuse holder, a handle therefor and means associated with the handle for separately actuating said contact members and locking device, independently of movement of said fuse holder.

10. In a fuse switch, enclosure therefor, a fuse cartridge removably disposed within the enclosure, contact members carried by the cartridge, a handle for actuating said cartridge, locking elements for the fuse holder and means associated. with the handle for separately actuating said locking means and contacts, independently of movement of the fuse holder.

11. In a fuse switch, an inclosure therefor, a fuse holder removably disposed within the enclosure, a handle for said. fuse holder, con-' tact members and locking means for the fuse holder, adapted to be separately actuated by the handle in advance of any movement thereby, of the fuse holder.

, 12. In a switch, an enclosure, contacts carried by the enclosure, a removable element rotatably disposed in bridging relation with said contacts, means carried by said element and movably associated therewith,vfor looking said element in switch-closing position, a handle for said removable element, and means operatively associated with the handle for actuating said lockin g means, whereby the removable element may be placed in locked engagement with, and released from the enclosure upon rectilinear movement of said handle.

13. In a fuse switch and the like, a hollow body portion, a fuse cartridge, an ann.u lar contact member carried internally of the body, a combined contactand closure-member for one end of said body portion, said member being of annular form and carried by said fuse cartridge, said annular contact members having end face portions normally in gas-tight engagement, and coacting with the cartridge to complete the closure of the adjacent end of the hollow body portion, and resilient contact fingers carried by one of said contact members, and arranged for contact with the other contact member.

14. In a fuse switch and the like, a hollow body member, a tubular fuse holding element removably disposed therein, an annular contact member fixedly secured within the body portion and a combined contact and closure member carried by said fuse holding element comprising a ring adapted for end abutting engagement with said fixed contact member, and resilient contact fingers projecting from said ring along said fuse holding element.

15. In a switch, a removable switch blade member, a contact-member and a lockingmember carried by said switch blade, a handle for said blade and means associated with the handle and extending movably between said contact-and locking-members.

16. In a switch, a removable switch blade member, a resilient contact element carried by said member, a resilient locking member carried by said blade, a handle for said blade and means associated with said handle, tending to move said locking member with respect to said contact, upon endwise movement of the handle.

17. In a switch, an enclosure, a switch blade member removably disposed in the enclosure, said blade having an exterior circular portion, contaet members disposed in spaced relation on said circular portion and locking members disposed between said contact members.

18. In a switch, an enclosure, a switch blade removably disposed in the enclosure, contact members carried by the enclosure, a plurality of resilient contact fingers disposed about the switch blade, locking fingers carried by said blade and disposed between said contact fingers, a ring adapted for endwise movement along the blade, in constricting relation to said locking fingers, and a handle connected to said ring and having a lost motion engagement with the switch blade.

19. In a switch, a removable blade structure, resilient contact fingers carried thereby, a stationary contact having a curved surface, said resilient contact fingers each having a portion of curved transverse section adapted to engage the stationary contact, a collar secured to and surrounding said blade structure, engaging portions of said contact fingers, said last named portions being disposed between said eollar and blade structure.

WALTER A. HEINRICH. 

